Some Facts About McDonald’s Hamburgers That Might Surprise You

Food & Drink Main Course Side Dish
Some Facts About McDonald’s Hamburgers That Might Surprise You

McDonald’s hamburgers have been a big part of fast food culture for years. These burgers are creative, frequently changing, and cosmopolitan. Smart business choices help them change. If you like McDonald’s burgers, discovering these facts may surprise and amuse you.

This article tells some interesting facts about McDonald’s hamburgers that show their special place in the fast food world. We examine the flavor variations and their famous problematic features.

Some Facts About McDonald’s Hamburgers That Might Surprise You
File:Big Mac hamburger.jpg – Wikimedia Commons, Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC Zero

The first thing is about the naming of the Big Mac, a burger that almost wasn’t the name we know today. It was originally first introduced in 1967. The famous double-decker burger ran into some problems at the beginning of its naming process. It was initially called the “Aristocrat” and later the “Blue Ribbon Burger” but these names did not entice customers to buy it.

Esther Glickstein Rose, a young secretary who worked in the advertising department, suggested the name “Big Mac.” Although her idea was initially ridiculed. But it is now the official name. Imagine if you ordered an “Aristocrat Meal” instead of a “Big Mac”. It just sounds different, doesn’t it?

Not only is the Big Mac on top of its name, it’s really unique in its sales layout. It has two beef patties and some lettuce. There’s also cheese, pickles and onions. The special sauce is sandwiched between three pieces of bread. It’s not just a burger, it’s a big statement.

McNuggets
Photo by David Foodphototasty on Unsplash

The next thing is about McNuggets, whose popularity is now worldwide. But McDonald’s tried another fried chicken nugget idea back in the 1970s: the onion nugget. These nuggets were covered in crispy breadcrumbs. These onion nuggets were first and foremost a side dish. They were used to accompany the famous French fries. Although the onion nuggets didn’t stay on the menu for long, it did give McDonald’s a huge boost.

It was Chef René Arend who changed his mind about chicken, and Chairman Fred Turner asked him for it. Thus, Chicken McNuggets was born in 1983. The product easily made its way into the hearts of millions.

Changing their minds showed their ingenuity. Onion Chicken Nuggets were not successful at the beginning of their existence. But they helped create the McNuggets and became an important part of history.

There’s actually something else about the design of the food that many people must not have realized. Did you notice that all McNuggets come in four shapes? These shapes are not randomly molded. McDonald’s has carefully designed these very specific shapes in order to keep the product consistent. These four different shapes include boot, ball, bone, and bell. These uniform shapes ensure that each McDonald’s fried chicken nugget comes out with consistent quality during the cooking process. Know that they are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside every time.

The steps involved in making these fried chicken nuggets are known to be very interesting. They are first precisely molded with a special rolling cutter. Then, workers apply two layers of batter on top. After that, they are partially fried and then frozen until needed. I think it would be geometrically satisfying for most people to eat these nuggets.

Turquoise Arches in Arizona
Sedona, Arizona | Sedona, Arizona, home of McDonald’s turquo… | Flickr, Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

And another interesting piece of information, everyone knows that McDonald’s famous golden arches are also easily recognizable. But actually, in Sedona, Arizona, McDonald’s arches are turquoise in color. This is because of a local rule that buildings must look like nature. Therefore, McDonald’s changed its usual yellow color to turquoise to comply with this rule. This place is undoubtedly unique. It is now a tourist attraction.

This change shows that McDonald’s can comply with local regulations. They still maintain their brand name which is known worldwide. The turquoise arch was built in 1993. This shows that they respect local customs. However, the McDonald’s chain still retains its name. Tourists rarely go there to see the blue arches.

a mcdonald's hamburger and french fries
Photo by Julee Juu on Unsplash

In terms of food, McDonald’s has also changed the recipe of its fries in order to address health concerns. This is something that I’m sure many people don’t know. McDonald’s fries seem to be out as much as the burgers, and the recipe for the fries has been changed several times.

Their fries were originally cooked in beef fat, which gave them a distinctive flavor. in 1990, McDonald’s began changing their oil out of health concerns. So after this they started cooking with vegetable oil. The change came from a campaign by Phil Sokolof, a health advocate. He is a health advocate.

The new method should be healthier for people. But what customers missed most was the old flavor. So McDonald’s added “natural beef flavor.” It comes from wheat and milk products and uses vegetable oils that contain trans fats, which are bad for you. So by 2007, they changed the oil again. Many McDonald’s fans said that their fries never tasted the way they used to.

The Filet-O-Fish Was Created for Fridays
The 99 Cent Chef: Cheap$kate Dining Video – McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Friday, Photo by bp.blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

There’s an interesting history of “Fish and Chips for Fridays”. Think back to the early 1960s. Lou Groen, the owner of McDonald’s, had a problem with low sales on Fridays. His Cincinnati store served many Catholics. And many did not eat meat on Fridays.Groen saw an opportunity and created fish sandwiches. This created the famous Filet-O-Fish sandwich for customers.

It first went against Ray Kroc’s own meatless burger idea. That burger had pineapple and cheese on it. In the end the Filet-O-Fish sandwich easily won out and stayed, and in 1965 the Filet-O-Fish became McDonald’s first non-hamburger. Its popularity soared during Lent. Nearly 25% of all sales occurred during that time.

Recipe details: Real Hamburgers
Prep time: 20 min        Inactive time:
Cook time: 10 min        Total time: 30 min
Level: Easy        Servings: 10 to 12 hamburgers
Total weight: 775.6 g        Calories: 2203.6 kcal
Energy: 2203.6 kcal        Protein: 129.1 g
Carbs: 96.3 g        Fat: 141.1 g
Dish Tags: american, sandwiches, lunch/dinner, Low-Carb, Sugar-Conscious, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Sulfites

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground sirloin
3 tablespoons steak sauce (recommended: Crosse & Blackwell)
6 extra-large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
12 hamburger buns

Cooking steps:
1. Carefully mix the meats, steak sauce, egg yolks, salt, and pepper with the tines of a fork, but do not mash it. Lightly form each hamburger and lightly press into a patty shape. Make an indentation and put a thin slice of butter inside each hamburger, making sure the butter is entirely encased in the meat.
2. Heat a grill, broiler, or saute pan and cook the hamburgers for 3 to 5 minutes on each side until almost done. Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Allow the hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes and serve immediately on buns.

Get the recipe: Real Hamburgers

Hamburger University Is a Real Thing
File:2018 New-HU-logo (44357292944).jpg – Wikimedia Commons, Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

McDonald’s burgers are more than just fast food. They are a sign of culture and innovation. They are a testament to the global adaptability of the McDonald’s brand. Every detail tells an interesting story. The next time you visit a McDonald’s, pay attention to the history inside. With every bite, savor the layers of creativity.

Related posts:
12 Facts About McDonald’s You Probably Didn’t Know
9 Facts You Didn’t Know About McDonald’s Quarter Pounder
What Is McDonald’s Hamburger University, Exactly?

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